Laughter is contagious!!!!

Oh I had so much fun at this wedding- Libby and Andy were beyond fun!  You could not help but smile and laugh with them and their bridal party, they were having truly the time of their life!!!

Libby was a vision of loveliness and Andy was classically stylish.  The couple married in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and the reception was held at The Hall – Canal and Senate.

The couple had wonderful custom details for their wedding- Andy and Libby brewed all the beer served at the reception themselves.  The couple got engaged ‘over a corndog’ so of course, hand dipped corn-dogs were served at the reception.

We dressed up The Hall with custom made curtains (made by By Invitation Only…Event Planning & Design), crisp white couches and soft blue hydrangeas.  To top of the fun filled reception, the groom made their own Cornhole game for the lawn out back- we even had to go play a game

Catering was by Dupre Catering.

Flowers by Lexington Florist

Photography by Amanda Zabrocki.

The band Lundy performed fabulous music all evening.

Here are a few photos…

 

One of the church

 

The gorgeous bride before the ceremony

 

The couple arrived at The Hall in the most amazing vintage car- with cans tied to the bumper and all!!!

 

 

The food display

 

Shot of the windows with the custom curtains

 

The couple gave their guests monogrammed pint glasses to go along with their home brewed beer!

 

Their brewed beer and description.

 

The sitting area- we used clear glass vases filled with a matching sash  to incorporate the colors!

 

The cake was by Connie White

 

The hand dipped corn-dog station!

 

The Cornhole game made by the groom!

 

One final shot of the room at night!

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I am getting married in 15 mintues…

I know, sounds funny but this is the best  line from Kristin, as you can guess, 15 minutes before she walked down the aisle and she said it with so much excitement, I could not resist.  We were sitting in the bridal suite and she was so cute, chatting it up with all the girls and she kept saying it, well until I said ‘it’s about that time ‘

There are couples and families that I meet that you just connect with- you almost feel like family at times when working with them.  Working with Kristin, William and Eva (mother of the bride) was such a wonderful experience!!!  Their enthusiasm to make this wedding amazing  is evident in EVERY detail you see.  Everyone seemed have the most wonderful time- dancing, eating and just having a blast…

…but the absolute most touching moment for me, as a wedding planner, came at a tear filled moment when my absoloutley beautiful bride was about to walk down the aisle to the love of her life.  Just before I opended the door, she took a moment to grab my hand and tell me thank you from the bottom of her heart, that she could not have done it without us! 

As Kristin stood there with her father, she turned and looked at him…”Daddy, I am getting married”, then the biggest smile came across her face and she giggled and cried at the same time!  I am SO privileged to be able to witness this most amazing moment in this woman’s life.

The couple got married at Ashland Methodist Church- this church is breathtaking!!  After the emotion filled ceremony, the couple excited through the beautiful sword arch by Williams fellow Navy groomsmen.  It was cute, you could tell she was anticipating the ’swat’ on the fanny!

What fills my heart with warmth and makes all the hard work so perfect is seeing a couple so in love- Kristin and William are so connected, their love is contagious – it made me smile all evening when I would seem them hugging, kissing and telling each other their love!

The food was so fabulous as always- I love working with Richenda and her team- the are beyond AWESOME!!!!

Photography was by Clark Berry Photography, catering by Applause, bar service by Ed’s Bartending, DJ was Sam Bigby, cake by Parkland Cakes, Flowers by Jim Lane, Hair by Cristal Smith

Enjoy:

I was lucky to catch one photo of mother and bride when they stopped by to take a look- Kristin gave her bridesmaids the cutest little monogrammed robes-

 

 

They are so cute…just before they exited to the sword arch!

 

The ’swat’

 

 

Okay, I could not resist and he may get mad at me for this but I just had to put this in here to show Clark Berry – he does whatever it takes to get just that perfect shot…I just think this is so great! (Sorry Clark )

 

 

Food tables being set up-

 

Room shot during set up.

 

 

Bride’s bouquet with a piece of her Grandmother’s dress wrapped around the stems.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cake cutting with the sword!

 

Exquisite….

So exquisite, so elegant, so lovely!!!!  Andrea and I met several years back- ironically enough, she was my Carolina Bride representative when we were just starting out – we became friends through the years of working together.  So of course when she told me she was getting married, I was beyond thrilled and wanted to help in any way I could!

Andrea and Johnathan’s ideas were amazing- they picked the sophisticated colors of cerise, ivory and  taupe accented by gold.  The combination was show stopping. They had all sorts of unique elements to make their wedding so exciting and fun as well as very moving!

The late afternoon ceremony was held out on the putting green at Columbia Country Club.  The bridal party processed to the soft sounds of a harp and the absolutely stunning bride was escorted down the aisle by her brother.  Andrea was beyond full of emotion- it was all I could do not to cry while getting her ready for her entrance-

After the ceremony- guests enjoyed cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres on the porch.  Wine was set up in a unique self serve display that was just lovely.  Dinner was served in the lavishly set main ballroom- from the cerise chair ties to the menu seating cards – no detail was overlooked.

The family table centerpiece, cake flowers and bouquets/bouts. were created by Southern Stems - gorgeous work as always!

Photography by the very gifted Clark Berry- again, always a pleasure working with them!

The yummy white chocolate wedding cake with raspberry filling was created by Angi Anderson.  Great sounds were provided by the Coastal Breeze Band.

 

Clark Berrycreated a wonderful guest book from the photos taken during their engagement session.  Programs were fans printed by the bride.

 

Ceremony site- the topiary belonged to the couple, Southern Stems place blooms in them to add that pop of color.

 

 

 

Petal monograms at the entrance of the club.

 

Seating cards were displayed on this fabric backed frame made by the bride.

 

The lovely wine display.

 

The beautiful ball room.

 

The ‘family’ table- centerpiece by Southern Stems.

 

Guest tables – centerpieces put together by B.I.O., menu cards and table numbers created by B.I.O.

 

 

We tied the matches to the sparklers for their send off next to the beautiful card box.

 

The brides gorgeous bouquet created by Southern Stems and menu seating card created by B.I.O.

Très Romantique!!!

(This wedding was planned and coordinated by one of B.I.O. planners – Jill Areheart.)

We had so much fun working with Caroline and Philippe. They are a wonderful couple and their focus was on building a day full of special touches, surrounded by family and friends, without sweating all the small stuff. It was truly a beautiful event full of love.

Although Caroline grew up in Columbia, she and Philippe live in California. Her Dad lives here, but her mom is in Hawaii. Philippe is French, so his parents – and many of his friends and relatives – travelled from France for the wedding. Needless to say, we did a lot of planning over email!

 The ceremony was at Rutledge Chapel with two of their friends and fellow professors officiating. One did each part of the service in English and the other translated into French. They had a large bridal party, and I must say that all the French speakers were very good sports following my Southern instructions!

 Philippe had told me that everyone would stay as late as possible and they did! The ceremony was at 3pm, and they were still having fun at 11pm when we had to close the reception. The Seibel’s house was a perfect venue, and the weather really cooperated. Guests had wine and passed hors d’oeuvres in the garden with the afternoon sun shining. My favorite part was that people enjoyed themselves so much many had their shoes off and were sitting around on the grounds picnic style!  The sun was setting when the buffet was served inside, so we lit all the candles placed around the grounds, and guests came back out to enjoy dancing under the stars. 

Photography was by Southern Wedding Photography

 Guests entered the reception directly into the garden area

 

 

 Here are photos of the grounds before guests arrived. We hung white paper lanterns from the trees and also used our shepherd hook lanterns with candles we lit at sundown.

 

 

 

 

 The bride and groom hired a carriage for the trip from Rutledge Chapel to Seibels House.

 

 

The cake from Parkland was perfect. The topper is from the bride’s grandparents wedding. They’ve been married 68 years!

  

 

The food was from Kendall’s Katering. Flowers by Southern Stems.

 

  

The indoor centerpieces added just the right touch. Southern Stems used a single blue hydrangea in one of our cube vases for each table.

 

 

 The memory board at the reception with pictures of Caroline and Philippe growing up. It was a huge hit – the guests loved looking at all the photos of them.  You can also see the CD guest favors. The title was Caroline and Philippe: the Soundtrack, and they had the DJ play it during cocktail hour.

 

 

 

 We clustered the bridesmaids’ blue hydrangea bouquets into vases on one of the mantels at Seibels House during the reception.

 

  

We hung café lights around the tent (from Palmetto Party Rental) to add a little sparkle. For the outdoor centerpieces we took three cylinder candleholders and tied them with brown and blue ribbons.

 

Sometimes you just have to roll with it…

We were so lucky to be able to be a part of this gorgeous event!  Kari and Cole were just the most amazing couple- so easy going, so elegant and sweet- just beautiful!

They picked a breath-taking location for their wedding, the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens in Belmont, North Carolina.  This garden is beyond amazing- I just fell in love with it!  The couple put lots of details in their wedding that just made it ‘them’.  The ceremony was to take place in the ‘White Garden’ , cocktail hour at the Orchid Conservatory and reception under the tent out from the Great Hall.  Sadly we did have rain just before the ceremony was to begin so we made the decision to move the ceremony in the Great Hall- I think it turned out just BEAUTIFUL!!!!

The groom had only one specific request…a soft serve ice cream station- it was perfect with sprinkles and all.  The candy bar was also a huge hit.

Photography was by the amazingly talented Kellie Kano!!

The lovey printed items were created by Graphically Inclinded Designed - the couples custom made invitations, programs and accents all had the same pattern throughout – and what was spectacular is how they carried it to their wedding cake.

Catering by Side Porch.

Programs were hung on each chair.

The Great Hall – photo by Kellie Kano

 

Ceremony in the Great Hall- photos DO NOT do it justice!

 

Program and bride’s bouquet- photo by Kellie Kano

 

 

The Orchid Conservatory- this place was beyond amazing.  Cocktail hour was held here.

 

Lemonade and tea were served from our spigot jars into mason jars!

 

 

Details – photo by Kellie Kano

 

Lanterns over the dance floor and lovely orchid arrangement for the tall cocktails.

 

Seated table centerpieces.

 

Lovely cake and design!

 

 

Great sweetheart table!!!

 

Shot of the sweetheart table, bride’s bouquet and bridesmaids!

 

Candy bar before we got the apples out

 

The soft serve ice cream!

 

The gorgeous couple!  Look at this amazing shot Kellie Kano captured before the ceremony!!

 

I had to grab one shot of them while Kellie was working with them!

 

 

The gorgeous bride – photo by Kellie Kano.

 

The lovely invitation created by Graphically Inclined Design

The Garden is full of love…

What a lovely time of year to have such a pretty wedding!  We just love doing a wedding at the Riverbanks Zoo Botanical Garden, it is just beautiful.

We began working with Kristian and her mother over a year ago.  They had a moving ceremony and elegant dinner in the Magnolia Room, Botanical Gardens.

The flowers were AMAZING- created by Think Floral (low square centerpieces were created by By Invitation Only)  We got to work with Clark and Becki Berry again, which we just love!!!!  You can see his a few shots below and of course more on his website!!!

DJ was the wonderful Ronnie Lane with Partytime DJ.  Cake was by the wonderful Parkland Cakes- gorgeous as always.

 

Photo by Clark Berry

 

Photo by Clark Berry- flowers by Think Floral

 

Photo by Clark Berry, flowers by Think Floral

 

Photo by Clark Berry, cake by Parkland Cakes

 

Photo by Clark Berry

 

Family table centerpiece!

 

Room shot

 

Atrium shot

 

Centerpieces made by By Invitation Only…

 

Arrangement by B.I.O. as well.

 

Lovely portrait by Clark Berry

 

Seating chart created by B.I.O.

A Historical Marriage…

This wedding was just amazing.  I met Elizabeth through Becki Berry (of Clark Berry Photography).  Becki and Elizabeth were roomates in collage and Becki was Elizabeth’s maid of honor- so needless to say, we had a fabulous time.

Elizabeth and Bryan had THE MOST amazing ideas incorporated within the wedding that joined thier families.  It begins with the ceremony location…Elizabeth’s ancestors helped settle Dorchester, South Carolina in 1695.  The site of Colonial Dorchester State Park (where the ceremony took place) was once the town of Dorchester.  St. George’s Anglican Church was build in 1719 and stood at the center of town.  The bell tower was added in 1757 and is all that remains today.  The town was abandoned after the Revolutionary War and the surrounding forest reclaimed the site, preserving evidence of Colonial village life.  The park is divided by markers that define family parcels, of course with Elizabeth’s family’s being included.

The reception took place that the gorgeous historical Society Hall in Charleston.  The couple wanted to incorporate their history with the food they served – the food was so amazing and abundant.  Each food station was defined by its ‘map’ and flag- showing guest where the food originates.  The couple also wanted to continue with the family lines by creating their new family crest displayed on the specially made and designed ‘wedding china’ – it was BEYOND amazing!!!

We were entertained all evening by the wonderful Lundy band- I am looking forward to working with them again several times this year

Now a few candid photos- enjoy:

 

We set up lemonade and tea, apples and almonds adjacent to the ceremony site for guest as they arrived! (this is Ruth and Harriet getting things set up:-))

 

 

 

Clark Berry was able to catch a few FABULOUS shots while his wife was enjoying being on the ‘other side of the fence’ at a wedding This is one of Clark’s photos.

 

Sweet aisle marker and you can see the amazing arrangements in the background.

 

Another amazing photo by Clark Berry

 

The front of Society Hall.

 

They had a pogo photo guestbook.

 

This was a lovely creation presented to the couple containing their invites, family history, and photo!!!

 

 

Just a shot from the end of the room.

 

 

The ‘Greek’ table

 

The custom made wedding china with thier crest.

 

Closer shot of the cake- made by Publix

 

And last but not least- a shot of Becki and I LATE in the evening, sorry I look worn out but Becki looks FABULOUS!